Representatives of Wisconsin's 11 federally recognized Native-American tribes reaffirmed their partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration at the capitol Tuesday morning.
The WisDOT/Tribal partnership agreement, first conceived in 2005, was set up to help tribes meet their transportation needs and promote economic development while respecting the tribes' right to self-governance.
This partnership was the result of Gov. Jim Doyle's executive order to have state agencies form agreements, such as the DOT partnership, to promote cooperation between governments.
""The Wisconsin DOT/Tribal partnership agreement provides a mechanism to enhance communication, build partnerships, and focus on the shared values that promote economic health and vitality of all Wisconsin communities,"" DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi said.
Tom Maulson, representing the Lac du Flambeu Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, noted the progress being made in his own community.
""It took a long time,"" Maulson said. ""I can remember we had gravel and sand roads back up north, and now we're starting to pave them.""
However, he said even the revised version presented Tuesday was still a work in progress.
Laurie Boivin, representing the Menominee Nation, discussed some of the initiatives enacted by the agreement, including a summer youth transportation program and a training program for entry-level transportation jobs.
She praised the agreement's role in better defining the relationship between tribal nations and the state of Wisconsin.
""The foundation of that relationship is forged out of respect: respect for each other's unique identity, respect for each other's viewpoints, and most importantly, respect for each other's right to self-governance,"" Boivin said.
